14. While Moses was at Kadesh, he sent some men with a message to the king of Edom. The message said, “This is what your brothers, the Israelites, say to you: You know about all the troubles we have had.
15. Many years ago our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there for many years. The people of Egypt were cruel to us.
16. But we asked the Lord for help, and he heard us and sent an angel to help us. The Lord has brought us out of Egypt. “Now we are here at Kadesh, where your land begins.
17. Please let us travel through your country. We will not travel through any fields or vineyards. We will not drink water from any of your wells. We will travel only along King’s Road. We will not leave that road to the right or to the left. We will stay on the road until we have traveled through your country.”
18. But the king of Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land. If you try to travel through our land, we will come and fight you with swords.”
19. The Israelites answered, “We will travel along the main road. If our animals drink any of your water, we will pay you for it. We only want to walk through your country. We don’t want to take it for ourselves.”
20. But again the king of Edom answered, “We will not allow you to come through our country.” Then the king of Edom gathered a large and powerful army and went out to fight against the Israelites.
21. The king of Edom refused to let the Israelites travel through his country, so the Israelites turned around and went another way.
22. All the Israelites traveled from Kadesh to Mount Hor.
23. Mount Hor was near the border of Edom. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,
24. “It is time for Aaron to die and go to be with his ancestors. Aaron will not enter the land that I promised to the Israelites. Moses, I say this to you because both you and Aaron did not fully obey the command I gave you at the waters of Meribah.
25. “Now, bring Aaron and his son Eleazar up to Mount Hor.